LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the last U.S. House race to be determined this year, Democrat Adam Gray defeated Republican Rep. John Duarte on Tuesday to win California’s 13th Congressional District.
Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, while Democrats held 215 seats, thanks to Gray’s victory in the farm belt district that passes across five counties.
Election officials said on Tuesday that all ballots had been counted, and Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes.
Duarte won the seat in 2022 after defeating Gray by 564 votes, one of the narrowest margins in the nation. Given that he only won by 11 points over registered Republicans in a Democratic-leaning district, he was frequently ranked as one of the most vulnerable House Republicans.
“We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too,” Gray said in a statement.
“That’s how it goes,” Duarte told the Turlock Journal, adding that he had called Gray to give in.
Duarte told the newspaper, “I’m a citizen legislator, and I didn’t plan on being in Congress forever,” though he did not rule out running for office in the future.
The party gained three House seats in California that were previously held by the GOP during a difficult year for Democrats nationwide.
Throughout the campaign, both Duarte and Gray emphasized their bipartisan credentials.
Gray, a former lawmaker, prioritized water and agriculture and criticized the state’s water management. He added that he wants to see advancements in education, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
Businessman and prominent grape and almond grower Duarte stated that reducing crime, inflation, and securing sufficient water supplies for farmers in the drought-prone state were among his top goals.
Like other Central Valley seats, the district has a sizable Latino population, although white, older, wealthier homeowners are typically the more likely voters statewide. Many Latinos and other working-class voters are less likely to consistently show up at the polls.
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